Honda CB900F

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Honda was one of the first manufacturers to introduce the idea of the ‘superbike’ to the world with the introduction of its CB750 in 1969.

But by the late Seventies, the other Japanese makers, Suzuki, Yamaha and Kawasaki, had all introduced large capacity double overhead cam machines and Honda, with much of its attention on the car market, had fallen behind.

But taking lessons learned in endurance bike racing, and under the supervision of Soichiro Irimajiri, renowned for his racing bikes of the Sixties (and for his hand in the company's Formula One campaign), two new bikes were developed; the four-cylinder 900 and a six-cylinder 1000cc. Both machines went into production in 1979.

The CB900F followed the style of the later versions of the 750, but its engine has more in common with the six-cylinder CBX. They shared the same bore size, though the 900 had a longer stroke. With a high compression ratio, four valves per cylinder operated by twin overhead camshafts, and four 32mm carburettors, the 900 produced a hefty 95bhp at 9000 rpm

The CB900F had a slightly shorter wheelbase than the 750, though with its bigger engine, weighed some 22lb more. With five gears and chain drive, it was a 140mph machine giving a fine balance of power and handling more akin to the revered European machines. Its character leaned more towards a sports tourer than an out and out sports bike.

The CB900F was produced until 1983 when it was replaced by the larger capacity CB1100F. Honda would move on to liquid-cooled in-line fours in 1987.

This October 1979 example comes from the first year of production. Retaining its blue V5 document, its odometer shows a reading of 45,887 miles, though this cannot be verified. The machine reportedly starts and runs well. It has been on display in the Stondon Motor Museum since 2003.